How to Give a Memorable Gift

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One thing I have always loved is giving people gifts.  I'm not trying to brag but I've also been told I'm an amazing gift giver.  😁  I attribute much of this to being a type A personality and an empath.  Type A's are detail oriented and empaths often put the joy of others before their own.  Plus it gives me great joy to put together an unforgettable gift.  I am ALWAYS tuned in to what others say for hints they unknowingly give me to something they want or like.  Everything from their favorite candy/treats they mention in passing to scents from their favorite businesses and more obvious sources like Amazon lists and Pinterest boards.  Someone can mention something one time and it will stick with me.  Early in the pandemic, we were having a distanced chat across the street with a neighbor.  When we walked away, I said out loud "1000 piece puzzles and chamomile tea."  The Mr looked at me and I said "I might get her something for Christmas, she said she likes those" and the Mr smiled because obviously that was what I heard and remembered.  

Not only is giving someone a gift you know they will like or need fun to do, how it's presented is also very important on making a big impression.  I'm not talking necessarily how it's wrapped but more of how it's put together if you're giving multiple gifts.  Here's a good example.  One of my best friends was having her bridal shower and I put this together for her:

She needed new luggage that was on her registry so I got her the suitcase and carry on.  I also got her the phone dry bags on her list (one for her and one for her fiancé) and tucked them in the inside pocket as well as the guidebook on her list.  This way when she opened the suitcase, she saw it had all kinds of goodies in it.  I also added two small additions she didn't ask for but hoped they could use anyway:

Custom luggage tags, one for each or an extra if he didn't need one.  I also read reviews and saw a few people had issues with the handle screw coming out.  It wasn't a lot compared to how many didn't have problems but even one would be enough to make me sweat.  So I got some flathead screws with nuts and tucked them inside explaining if she had an issue, she'd have a temporary fix until she could contact the company.  No, most people aren't that neurotic but I would crap if that happened to me on vacation!  People oohed and ahhed over the presentation and she laughed and said "this is so YOU to put it together like this!  I love it all, you are so thoughtful!"  Then I had two people tell me when their birthdays were if I wanted to gift them with anything.  

 

Another good way to be memorable is to surprise someone.  For example, back in the day when home theater systems first came out the Mr wanted one in the worst way.  I kept saying we had no room for it and don't use it enough to justify it, knowing all along I would save up to buy it.  ($600 at the time which is no drop in the bucket then or now.)  A well timed out of town training trip allowed me to run and buy it.  This was before Amazon so I had to find a way to get this 100+ lb monster in and out of the car AND up the stairs without having a heart attack and no one to call the ambulance when I keel.  I did it and immediately wrapped it and kept it in the closet.  When he came home, I casually told him that my mom asked if we could store a chest she wanted to give her sister that we would bring Christmas day.  He saw it and said "Wow.  Doesn't every adult want to get a gift that size?  I'm jealous!"  He thought nothing of it and on Christmas morning, I gave him a card as his last gift that said "that box in the closet isn't for my aunt."  He tore upstairs, ripped it open and figuratively pooped himself.  Luckily sound bars give the same effect for much less bulk and back pain!  I did the same with a huge Sony VEGA TV he wanted but it was so big, we had to end up renting a truck to get it home!  

So many gifts these days are virtual but it's no fun just getting an email...physically opening something is what makes it feel like a present!  The Mr always has Kindle books on his list.  To make sure he has something to open, I copy the image of the book cover from the listing and print it out on cardstock.

(Source.   I will save the image of the book to be printed for gift giving.)

I'll put the print out in a box and wrap it like a regular gift.  If I want to throw him off, I'll weight it down with something so he doesn't catch on.  He has said it does make a difference and it's always nice to open something.  He gets annoyed when a certain family member notorious for just leaving a gift in the shopping bag hands it over.  (I'm glad it's not just me!)  "That feels more like "I picked this up on the way here", not an actual gift."  While we never look a gift horse in the mouth and are always grateful someone thought of us, if you are over the age of 30, it's likely you have one large gift bag stuffed with 25 other smaller gift bags you've accumulated over the years so put those to use if wrapping isn't your thing.  Even to a dude that isn't super worried about details, it shows some effort that is much appreciated!

I've had people ask me how to put together that perfect gift bundle.  Here's an example to give you an idea of how to think about it.  Say you have someone who likes tea.  You can assume they probably have more than their share of mugs so skip that part.  This Harney & Sons Tea Bag Sampler 40 Ct with By The Cup Honey Sticks would be a great way for them to try other teas without having to buy a box themselves.  If you want a fancier presentation, this Harney & Sons Silken Sachets Tea Gift Set will certainly make them feel fancy pants!  The first one is casually wrapped in a non-descript white box with 15 flavors and some honey sticks and the second one has a more formal feel with 8 flavors. If you get the less formal option, you could fancy it up by getting a tea chest and putting the teas inside.  Or if you think they'd appreciate a less formal option, they have these clear tea bag organizers.  A tea timer could be a fun add on too so they can get their perfect brew every cup.

You get the idea.

Also, make sure you research when you're getting gifts for men.  Nothing ticks the Mr off more than these Christmas lists that come out for the "perfect gift" for men.  

Booze!!  (He doesn't drink.)  

Grilling tools!  (I'm the griller, not him.)  

Golf stuff!  (Doesn't play.)  

Ties!  (Hasn't worn one in probably 15 years.)  

Work stuff!  (Would you want something for your work unless you specifically asked for it?!?!)   

This is where wish lists come in incredibly handy to make sure the man in your life gets what they want from grandpa to teen.  If you don't want to ask the person directly, ask their spouse or someone close to them for ideas.  The Mr likes to game but not the way typical gamers do, he's more PC oriented and has no desire to listen to 12 year old's smack talk the 'old man' on multi player.  (Old man being anyone over 30 apparently.)   Steam or Game Stop gift cards can be a good idea for the gamer in your life.  They can get what they want, when they want.  You can couple it with something like a headphone stand.  Got a car lover on your hands?  Maybe some gift cards for supreme packages at a car wash to get the winter muck off.  Partner it with some waterless car wash and some microfiber towels for more in-garage cleaning until the weather gets better.   If they are handy and are talking about running to Home Depot or similar stores a lot, gift card them with that "for their next awesome project!"   Couple it with something like this cool home project calculator or this foldable LED light for when those projects run later than expected. I know giving gift cards can feel impersonal but personalizing them to their taste and hobbies will be appreciated much more than getting a more generic option.

The hardest to buy for is my mother in law and I think we all have those people, usually older who say they don't need anything.  She absolutely refuses to give gift ideas.  On a typical year, we take her out for her birthday at the beginning of the month and then go shopping and let her pick out her Christmas gift.  I always give her a little something to keep to open on Christmas Day.  You never know if she actually liked or used what you gave her because you just get a blanket thank you note unless she's blown away by something so it makes it especially hard for me to gauge her.  We got her a gift card to her favorite store for her birthday that we usually go to after lunch since she always gets a coupon for 20% off and darts to the clearance section.  She said to "surprise her" when I begged for a gift for Christmas morning so I had to put on my thinking cap.  She was very close to her mom who passed in the early 90's and the idea popped in my head to have one of the recipes she gave to me from her mom engraved on a cutting board.  I did that for my mom with a handwritten recipe we had but I didn't have a handwritten one from MIL.  So I took the card she typed out and contacted this Etsy store that had the best prices and delivery times and got the ball rolling.  They have several different types of wood, styles and fonts to choose from.  I had her put "from the kitchen of" and her mom's name on it.  Because there was no scanning involved, she had it printed and shipped out the next day!  So I've got that, she's a tea drinker so I got her a Harney and Sons sampler to go with it and we'll get her favorite candy from her hometown candy shop to wrap with them.

The Mr said it was their favorite recipe as a kid and they had it all the time so I think she'll like it and hopefully will pull at the heartstrings this year when we all just kind of want our mommies.  

As you can see, the biggest component to any of these suggestions is thoughtfulness.  It's about giving them not only something you know they want but presenting it in a way that sticks in their minds.  What's the saying?  "You may not remember what a person said but you always remember how they made you feel?"  Same goes for gift giving!  The person may not remember the exact gift 10 years from now, but they'll remember the love and thought that went into giving them something that made them happy!

What's the most memorable gift you've ever gotten?

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